Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalmilar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalmilar’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large dark orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALMILAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikalmilar’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Milos’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,482. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalmilar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fikalmilar’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large dark orange-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of ‘Milos’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Milos’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Milos’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Milos’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Milos’ have yellow and orange bi-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Paso’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,337. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Paso’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Paso’ have dark red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fikalmilar’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalmilar’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Kalanchoe     blossfeldiana ‘Milos’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,482. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous             racemes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle             with rounded crown; appropriate for 10 to 15-cm containers;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 15 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to             seven lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal             of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance             lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 138A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical; mostly             flat; glossy.         -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 to 13 mature leaves and about             nine to 16 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 138A; venation, close to 138A. Developing and fully             developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,             close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in             racemes that arise from leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with usually about 25 open flowers and about             25 flower buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open             flowers and flower buds per plant; flowering continuously             for at least seven weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in The             Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least             14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, plants begin flowering in about eight to ten             weeks; actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon             temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 53 days under interior environmental conditions;             individual flowers last about 18 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid             with development. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Color: Close to 138C and 33D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length:             About 8.5 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially             upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 33A; color             becoming closer to 33B to 33C with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 29D and 32D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma             shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close             to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalmilar’ as illustrated and described. 